I don't understand why it the SoCon is not pursuing schools that already have solid FCS football programs up and running. ETSU and Mercer are not going to be ready and this league is down to 7 football members with others weighing their options elsewhere.

I understand ETSU and VMI b/c they were former members but that's the only reason. I woulda added CCU, Jacksonville St. over Mercer, VMI, ETSU

Me too. It's still early and as heavily hit as this conference has been CCU and Jacksonville St could still come into play. The way I see it, if getting back to 12 is going to be the goal they are going to need 4, possibly 5 more schools--even more if the OVC comes a-raidin'

I don't understand why it the SoCon is not pursuing schools that already have solid FCS football programs up and running. ETSU and Mercer are not going to be ready and this league is down to 7 football members with others weighing their options elsewhere.

I understand ETSU and VMI b/c they were former members but that's the only reason. I woulda added CCU, Jacksonville St. over Mercer, VMI, ETSU

Me too. It's still early and as heavily hit as this conference has been CCU and Jacksonville St could still come into play. The way I see it, if getting back to 12 is going to be the goal they are going to need 4, possibly 5 more schools--even more if the OVC comes a-raidin'

If the OVC is higher than SoCon now than Jacksonville St to the SoCon is out.

At some point you wonder if UNCG would leave the SoCon for the Big South-the only other school in SoCon in North Carolina would be WCU, and they are actually further west than ETSU. This would put the SoCon down to nine, and then Kennesaw State, North Florida, and Jacksonville are probably next.

The remains of the Atlantic Sun get divvied up between the Summit and America East as both have looming autobid issues.

At some point you wonder if UNCG would leave the SoCon for the Big South-the only other school in SoCon in North Carolina would be WCU, and they are actually further west than ETSU. This would put the SoCon down to nine, and then Kennesaw State, North Florida, and Jacksonville are probably next.

The remains of the Atlantic Sun get divvied up between the Summit and America East as both have looming autobid issues.

If the CAA goes to 12, I think UNCG goes there w/ Elon & Albany.

UNCA was the next name on the SoCon list after ETSU, Mercer, VMI. Maybe that changes if Elon leaves where KSU would get picked, but the SoCon would need to move fast on KSU, b/c They've got to be the top school on the Big South list to replace VMI.

VMI, ETSU, and Mercer give Iamarino 3 of the 4 he needs to put his conference back together. Who is his 4th? Or is he expecting to lose another member and these 3 adds will give him a 10 member league?

UNC-Asheville has been mentioned, but it seems like the SoCon would be foolish to rush into adding a non-football member, after supposedly requiringFB as part of inviting ETSU and Mercer.

Everything is in a state of flux (with CAA and AE probably also looking at expansion), and I think you may be correct... even though this gives them 8 + 3 = 11, right now they are more concerned with rebuilding their numbers than getting to an even number(knowing a school like Elon may have one foot out the door). Or maybe they bring in somebody like UNCW from the CAA if JMU goes FBS and the CAA starts to disintegrate....

VMI, ETSU, and Mercer give Iamarino 3 of the 4 he needs to put his conference back together. Who is his 4th? Or is he expecting to lose another member and these 3 adds will give him a 10 member league?

Kennesaw State has been the school floated around as the 4th for awhile now.

UNC-Ashville is only really in the picture if UNC-Greensboro promises to stay and even then I assume they be added at the very last minute just in case.

Still even after those the SoCon has plenty of options from Coastal Carolina to Jacksonville St and Liberty.

And after them there's Presby, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Steton, Jacksonville (FL), and non-fb options North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Lipscomb, SC Upstate (if worst came to worst), and a slew of upgrades waiting for an invite.

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